Maybe you’re seeking something new by choice; maybe the unexpected has happened and you’re forced to start looking for a new job. Either way, like many of us, perhaps your first instinct is to find the last resume you used, update it to include your latest professional position, and start looking and submitting.

But, will this really get you what you’re looking for? Odds are, no. This is the career search equivalent of throwing the proverbial wet toilet paper against the wall and seeing what sticks. It highlights one of the key differences between job search and career management. These are not the same.

When it’s time to make a change — whether by choice or necessity — most of us think about landing a professional role that not only gets us employed, but that offers at least some degree of professional satisfaction. Said another way, we want our next job to be not just a paycheck, but a fulfilling role that is aligned with long-term career plans, growth, and (gasp) even some enjoyment. It can be done!

What’s the missing step? Consider the critical career management components of assessment and goals. Many of us make the mistake of heading directly for the resume update in our search process; our advice is that this is not where we should begin. Rather, we suggest going through a thorough an assessment of our past/present/future career path that leads to clearly defined goals. These goals, in turn, determine our career management and search strategy. The revised resume is an output of this process. Said simply: When it’s time for a change, our advice is to make sure that “what comes next” is directly aligned to well crafted plans based on where we’ve been and where we want to go.

Firing out an updated resume to online postings is not the answer. Career management, not just job search, is the ideal. We’re happy to help.